ANAHEIM – The Angels’ bullpen has made significant improvement since earlier in the season, and one of the reasons has been the emergence of Dane De La Rosa.

De La Rosa, who pitched a perfect ninth inning during the Angels’ 5-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the opening game of the series on Tuesday, has a 1.04 ERA since May 18 in 17 1/3 innings.

“No doubt that Dane is pushing for an impact role,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s throwing the ball as consistently as any relief pitcher in our league.”

Scioscia said he’s a power pitcher he can use late in games.

“Dane, I think, is going to be much more important to us as a back-end guy who can hold leads rather than be a long man,” Scioscia said. “He does have a little length in him, but I think he’ll be best served if he’s bringing that power stuff into games to use it to hold leads as opposed to just keep you in games.”

With De La Rosa (3-1, 3.08 ERA in 38 innings this season) from the right side and Scott Downs (1-2, 1.54 ERA in 23 1/3 innings) from the left, the Angels have quality options in front of closer Ernesto Frieri.

Downs has pitched 22 consecutive scoreless innings, the second-longest streak in the majors.

“I think it’s tough to find a bullpen guy to bring the consistency that Scott Downs has shown,” Scioscia said. “It doesn’t always work out, but he’s going to make his pitches.

“He’s not going to beat himself. He’s been very very consistent.”

Several other Angels relievers, including Kevin Jepsen and Michael Kohn, also have been providing stability.

“There’s no doubt we have more options we can go to now,” Scioscia said. “I think we can match up a little better now. We’re holding leads now much better in these last 40 or 50 games than we did earlier.

“That is, needless to say, big. It’s been a much more productive bullpen.”

WHO’S ON FIRST?

Could Albert Pujols become the Angels’ full-time designated hitter?

Scioscia is not ready to go that far, but right now Mark Trumbo is the Angels’ primary first baseman.

Pujols has been battling through foot discomfort brought on by plantar fasciitis, which can limit his mobility and cause significant pain. The slugger has been the designated hitter in 50 games this season and has started at first base 31 times. Trumbo has started 45 games at first base. Trumbo has started at first base and Pujols at designated hitter the first two games of this series.

“Mark will be the primary first baseman moving forward and we’ll see how Albert feels as to how much he can get out there,” Scioscia said.

Scioscia said he doesn’t want to play Pujols at first base too often and possibly cause a set back with his plantars fasciitis.

“The most important thing for Albert is getting comfortable in the batters box, that’s really what his biggest contribution is going to be, and we need that more than we need him to play Gold Glove-caliber first base right now,” Scioscia said.

He has been slowed by soreness in his right wrist, an issue that has not completely disappeared. He said it’s bothered him a little bit the last couple of days, but he hit without a brace on it Wednesday.

“It felt OK,” Hamilton said. “It still bothers me on some days, but not enough to irritate me too much.”

Dave Thorpe is the local sports coordinator for the Daily Breeze. He has been covering local sports in the South Bay for the Daily Breeze since 2006. He previously was the sports editor at the Palos Verdes Peninsula News.

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